Grant Wood District

This district is named for Grant Wood, the Iowa artist who created the famous “American Gothic” painting. His history and legacy span the district, from the one-room Antioch School he attended near Anamosa to his studio in Cedar Rapids to his home in Iowa City to a gallery of his work in Tipton. His stylized landscape paintings of the rolling landscape made a significant impact on the area’s arts and culture during his lifetime.

Historic Highways District

The first automobile highways to connect the nation from west to east (Lincoln Highway) and north to south (Jefferson Highway) crossed through this district and intersected at the Reed-Niland corner in Colo. The area was a hub of activity that increased in the late 1920s following a long-fought battle to develop the Great Whiteway (now Highway 6), which ran from Chicago to Davenport, Des Moines, Council Bluffs and Omaha.

Jesse James District

On July 21, 1873, Jesse James and his gang staged the first robbery of a moving train near Adair. They had heard a Chicago and Rock Island train was transporting $75,000 of gold and made plans to derail the train just west of Adair. The train arrived and ran off the rails and after forcing the guard to open the safe, they found only $2,000 – the gold shipment was delayed! The gang escaped capture, but this bold robbery gave them national notoriety.

Merle Hay District

This district is named in honor of Glidden native, Merle David Hay, who voluntarily enlisted in the U.S. Army on May 3, 1917, shortly after Congress declared war on Germany. He tragically made headlines six months later when Germans cut off a small detachment of Gen. John Pershing's men, including Hay, and he was killed in action. Hay was one of the first three Americans to die in France during World War I, on November 3, 1917. That same year, the road into Camp Dodge in Des Moines was named Merle Hay Road in his honor.

Mississippi River District

Just as it has carved the physical landscape, the Mississippi River has shaped a remarkable path through the history of human settlement. For the first Native Americans, early European pioneers, and modern-day Iowans, the river has influenced the cross currents of migration, commerce, industry and recreation. Many of Iowa’s oldest towns hug the river’s west bank and reflect its rich history.

Montauk District

This district is named for Montauk, the majestic home and farm of Iowa’s 12th Governor, William Larrabee. Larrabee served as the Governor of Iowa from 1886 until 1890 and then retired to Montauk, his family mansion in Clermont which is now a State Historic Site. The Larrabee family furnished and maintained this two-story 1874 mansion and estate for more than 100 years, adapting with the changing agricultural life. Larrabee and his wife were also committed to ensuring the children in their community received the best education possible and in 1912 built and donated the IDEAL School to the town of Clermont.

Prairie School District

North-central Iowa is a trove of Prairie School architecture.The style's most prominent features are the horizontal lines that were thought to reflect the native prairie landscape. In Mason City alone, about 30 properties in this style are on the National Register of Historic Places, including a number by the famous Prairie School architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The Historic Park Inn in Mason City is the only Frank Lloyd Wright hotel remaining in the world.

Sergeant Floyd District

The Lewis and Clark Expedition passed through northwestern Iowa from August 13 through 20, 1804. Sergeant Charles Floyd Jr. was the only member of Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery Expedition to die on the journey. He died on August 20 just south of present-day Sioux City and was buried on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River. The region has documented the history of the Lewis and Clark Expedition at the Sergeant Floyd River Museum, Sergeant Floyd Monument, Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, M.V. Sergeant Floyd inspection boat, Lewis and Clark State Park and keelboat, and numerous works of art in the area.

Spirit Lake District

Although most Iowans associate the state’s three Great Lakes – Spirit Lake, plus East and West Okoboji – with sunny summer vacations spent fishing, boating and riding the old wooden roller coaster at Arnolds Park, the area wasn’t always so carefree. Tensions between Native Americans and white settlers erupted into the Spirit Lake Massacre during the winter of 1857 and marred the state’s generally peaceful record of Native and white relations. The site’s Abbie Gardner Sharp Cabin became one of Iowa’s first tourist attractions and still stands as a haunting reminder of the state’s early struggles.

Sullivan Brothers District

This district is named in honor of the five Sullivan brothers, natives of Waterloo, who enlisted in the U.S. Navy together, with the stipulation that they serve together. All were assigned to the USS Juneau, which was torpedoed during the Battle of Guadalcanal, and all five Sullivan brothers perished. As a direct result, the U.S. War Department adopted the Sole Survivor Policy (to protect families from losing multiple members in combat) and named a Navy ship for the brothers.

Voltaire Twombly District

This district is named for Voltaire Twombly, who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroic efforts as a flag bearer for the 2nd Iowa Infantry at the Battle of Fort Donnelson (Tennessee) in the Civil War.

Western Trails District

The region around Council Bluffs was a gateway to adventure and westward migration in the early to mid-1800s. In addition to the Lewis and Clark Expedition traveling along Iowa’s western border, pioneers followed the Oregon Trail, hopeful gold miners rushed along the California Trail, and Mormons trekked along the Mormon Trail to seek religious freedom in the Salt Lake Valley. Many of these early travelers began their journey at the Missouri River crossing at Council Bluffs.